Budget & finance

Recommendation to shutter four MSCS schools leaves many details up in the air. Here are the key questions we’re following.

MSCS leaders say the affected schools have costly maintenance needs and low utilization. A fifth school is slated to be transferred to a neighboring suburban district.

MSCS board members voted not to pay for tutors from local nonprofit Literacy Mid-South in this year’s budget. They haven’t responded to a cheaper proposal from the CEO over a month ago.

Memphis-Shelby County school board members approved a request Tuesday from Elon Musk’s AI company to repair school buildings near its two new data centers. But community members continue to protest xAI’s presence.

While the administration has said it is reviewing programs related to immigration and other issues, Tennessee schools previously primarily used the funds for teacher training and after-school programming.

The district was one of the state’s big losers when the U.S. froze federal aid in March. But the federal reversal frees up over $55 million for vital building upgrades.

The Memphis-Shelby County school board approved a $1.9 billion budget for the upcoming school year that will also resurrect school break learning academies. But the district scaled back some critical fire and safety upgrade proposals, including fire alarm upgrades in a number of schools.

Minimum teacher pay would see a bump under Lee’s proposed budget.

65% of vouchers would likely go to students who already attend private schools, the analysis says.

New report identifies $9.8 billion in facility needs for traditional public schools.

Strong fiscal management means ‘We don’t have to choose.’

The current state budget includes $144 million for a private school voucher proposal that failed to pass.

Tennessee’s largest district begins a critical year under new leadership.

Lee works to replace voucher opponents with loyalists in GOP primaries

The plan prioritizes addressing staff shortages in the classroom, but cuts jobs in other areas.

Although position cuts in Memphis have been expected all year, details were sparse until a meeting Tuesday where board members pushed back on how Superintendent Marie Feagins has communicated to staff.

Maintenance projects for existing Memphis schools will take priority, Feagins says.

The increase could make open teaching positions more attractive, especially to staffers whose positions may be eliminated.